Analyzing the role of sowing and harvest time as factors for selecting super sweet (-sh2sh2) corn hybrids

Abstract

Providing suitable environment for high-kernel sweetness
and yield is important for successful commercialization of
sweet corn hybrids. Twenty five super sweet corn genotypes
were evaluated at three-sowing and -harvest dates.
Genotype, sowing- and harvest- time had significant
influence on kernel sweetness accounting 33.8%, 9.1% and
3.9% of total variation, respectively. Genotype × sowing
time, genotype × harvest time and genotype × sowing time
× harvest time interactions contributed 13.8%, 8.2% and
18.9% of total variation, respectively. Kernel brix across
genotypes ranged from 16.1-25.5%. Sixty eight per cent of
the hybrids attained highest brix in third sowing compared
to 12% and 16% in first and second sowing, respectively.
Sixty four per cent of the genotypes attained peak in brix at
24-DAP (days after pollination), while 24% and 12%
genotypes had highest brix at 20-DAP and 28-DAP,
respectively. Genotypes with stable brix across sowingand harvest-time have been identified. Sowing time also
had significant influence on anthesis, cob- and fodderyield. Late sowing favoured kernel sweetness and cob yield.
Cob- and fodder- yield possessed positive correlation, but
did not show any association with kernel sweetness. The
information generated here holds immense significance in
the genetic improvement of sweet corn.